* Walking in a Winter Wonderland * - It's the 2015 Christmas Chatter Thread

pinknfluffy28

FeistyFidget wrote: »

I browsed this thread whilst I was in hospital and I have to say that a lot of it was too hard core for me. I always remember something :money: said a few years ago when it came to trying to save money; if you are having to do something that is so time intensive and will only save a few pence (knickers in primark multipacks are how cheap??) then you aren't actually saving money! If your time is valuable (either financially or just treasured) then sometimes I think it is the right thing to just buy new.

We have moving news :j It's not as great as it could be, but it is progress! We had an anxious call from estate agent yesterday saying that our buyers buyer needs to exchange in the next few days and complete within the next week or so or our whole chain would fall apart (which would mean we'd at the very least lose the house we are buying if not our buyers too!) We were urged to break our chain and complete before our house is ready :mad: Technically it's going to be a huge added expense for us, because although we are moving to the in-laws until the house is ready, we will have to pay removals twice and pay mega money to put 95% of our possessions into storage

The in-laws are amazing and so supportive, but it will be stressful for everyone to have to try and fit the others into normal work and eating routines. Plus although me and DH have been together for almost half our lives, it's not quite the same being able to veg out on your own sofa and watch what you want in the evenings compared to having to be a bit on ceremony at someone elses home. I am counting my blessings that we have such a kind and supportive family, but at the same time a bit grumpy that we (and the poor in laws) are being put out through no fault of our own. :mad:

Oh and after the sellers we are buying from have threatened to drop us so many times because they thought that we were delaying things, we've learned that they completed the bulk of their paper work weeks after we did AND now there is something on their end that is preventing us from completing :rotfl:Maybe we should be horrible and threaten to drop them!

Oh dear my lovely, I do feel for you. We dread being put in a similar position, but have already agreed that if the chain breaks, or threatens to either side, we will pull out completely.

You are fortunate that you have such lovely in laws, but the added expense must be so devastating. Just ask yourself, is it really worth it? If it is, then go ahead, but if you have any doubts, maybe tell your vendors that they can either wait, or loose the sale - it could just be bullying tactics on there behalf?

Also, I'm sure you have, but have you spoken to them directly, and made sure its not just the EA using bullying tactics to rush their payment through? A friend of ours was put in a similar situation last year, but upon speaking to their vendors in person, discovered it was actually the EA putting pressure on both parties/threatening the chain was about to break, when in actual fact, both parties were happy to sit & wait!


With regards to the mm&m thread, I too draw the line at a lot of the ideas (making, or mending underwear, and drying out and reusing teabags to name just two), but it really is helping me change our ways, and waste and spend much less!

KiWi13

freespirit66 wrote: »

KIWI how are you? Is it getting any easier? x

Free - I'm getting there slowly thank you for asking. Can be great for a few hours or fine when I wake up until I suddenly it hits again. There is quite a few gaps in my day now. Auto pilot can be a nasty thing.


Apologies to anyone who's birthday it has been I never remember to look. so :bdaycake: heres to all


Nothing Christmassy really going on here altho my son was humming christmassy tunes the other day - not sure where he has got that from. Doubt it was playgroup. When we were at the beach on our week off he found a lovely stone with different colourings in it and said "oh that looks Christmassy" hehehe think I have brainwashed him.


incase it helps : I did notice just if anyone wants to add for stocking fillers that A*da are doing Lynx XL cans at 1.94 and T*sco are doing normal sized cans down to £1.50 - pretty good for what they seem to be selling at recently.

mandco

my deepest condolences kiwi & peppapig
belated birthday wishes to those I've missed
Fiesty fingers crossed things work out quickly for you & all the stress will be worth it

thank you for all your lovely comments the kids took it better than I thought but have lots of questions that don't really have answers esp as our friend finally lost their battle and passed away over the weekend.

can't believe how quickly this yr seems to be going only a couple of wks left till the kids break up for the summer.
argos have the xmas art set back on offer at £3.99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1293933.htm
so picked up another one
homebargains have lots of bits in at the moment ideal for summer activities or stocking fillers for under £1 inc activity books 69p, cardboard finger puppets 29p & magic colouring books 39p.
They also have fans in for £9.99 12 inch /12.99 16 inch which is a lot cheaper than elsewhere.

hope everyone's doing ok and catch up soon tc

junior_j

Hello lovelies!

Well I am still in hospital , just my 5th day in a different one. I had a big brain and chest op on Saturday but its not the source of the other issues which me and the surgeon spoke about before surgery! So I am waiting to be transferred back to the hospital I have been in for the past 7 weeks. I am still being tube fed and the weightloss is slowing down after the first two stone melted off in less than a month. I am very sore but looking forward to moving forward and re arranging exams and catching up on everything!

PeppaI am truly sorry for your news. Massive hugs and I hope you and your family find the strength to pull you through this devastating news. Sorry I am no good with words for situation such as these. xx

Kiwi I am terribly sorry at the loss of your much loved dog. I have three dogs and love them like they are my equals as to me they are. I hope you also find the strength to deal with the emotions that are to be expected. You are allowed to cry and question things and be upset of course my lovely. x hugs.

ff I have no advice anything house wise because I understand zilch about it lol. I remember my mum and dad buying the house me and mum live in now or doing the mortgage or whatever way you phrase it and I remember then at 13 hearing the saying "chain breaking" but I wish you luck and hope things goes as smoothly as possible. x

FreeSpirit Maybe when the garden is all cut back (which I know you are not happy about) you can start again at a pace that suits you and get the garden to how you want it with less pressure. Maybe a little project type thing could go on?? Hugs.

Sorry to everyone else I am trying to remember everything but only 3 days post op! I buzzed the nurse 20 minutes ago for more pain meds but apparently my nurse is busy with another patient. Not sure how long I can wait till I buzz again but I hate being inpatient. My head however doesn't lol. Anyway off to look at student finance and dreaded bank accounts and missed bills. Thankfully this hospital has free wifi so I am playing catch up whilst I can and trying not to make to many mistakes with brain fog!

Love and hugs to all! x

mrs-moneypenny

Just popped in for a catch up read but couldn't leave without posting a message for peppa, I'm so very sorry to read your news, I can't find any words that could possibly comfort but I am thinking of you and yours at this incredibly sad and difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, I do hope you are getting any support you all need. Hugs.

3forholidays

:bdaycake: Belated birthday wishes to DropsofJupiter :bdaycake:

&

:bdaycake: Happy birthday to MsGigglewick :bdaycake:

Great to 'hear' from you JJ!

Hope everyone is keeping well.

freespirit66

Evening everyone,

PEPPAPIG glad you are still reading, sending hugs, no i know what you mean about only going so far, but it really does make me think twice about certain things now x

FEISTY glad its all progressing now

PINKNFLUFFY oh blimey i used to have friends who used to share a teabag between them, i dont drink tea but it looked like blooming dishwater, never understood it!

KIWI yes that is the hardest thing getting used to them not being there and not doing things for them, it took me a while to get through that stage x

MANDCO so sorry to hear about your friend, my condolences to you and your family, im glad the kids took it better than you expected, thinking of you x

JJ oh dear my lovely, im so sorry you are in so much pain, i cant believe you are up to sorting bills etc after only 4 days!!! You truly are inspiring, you must be so fed up after all this time in hospital, hope you are back home with your lovely mum and brother soon x

princesskitty29

pinknfluffy hope the bread turned out well? Flippin' machines! Have you asked on Freecycle? You never know what people don't need any more. I've seen bread makers on my group from time to time, it's quite often one of those things that people buy but only use once.

Fiesty as pinknfluffy said could it just be the estate agent putting pressure on? They are very good at doing this. It's awful as they mess with people's lives and put people in difficult situations but they are allowed to get away with it. As you say it is good that you have the support of family, I do understand what you mean though about not being able to relax as you do at home. This will only make it all the more sweeter when you do get your new place.

mandco so sorry to hear about your friend, how awful. I hope you're ok with everything that's going on. It must be very difficult to answer the kids questions, I suppose being honest is the only way to go really. Kids are tough little things really. Thanks for the tip about the bargains you've come across, i'm going to check out the Christmas craft box at Argos!

Junior sorry to hear you're still in hospital. I can't believe you're up and doing all this a few days after the op! Sorry that it didn't solve the problems you had, but has it at least eliminated a possible cause? I hope you can move forward soon and come out of there. x

_party_ HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY DROPSOFJUPITER AND MSGIGGLEWICK _party_

Well I've been slowly progressing with my new recipes, I've now made iced buns, meatball stew and cheesy bean burgers. It's disappointing sometimes though as they sound so nice but don't always turn out great. Poor DH never knows what's going to turn up on his plate come an evening! He's very good though, he doesn't complain and is always grateful that I cook him anything.

I have to confess, when I make DH and I a cup of tea I do use the same bag. We have Yorkshire Tea and I find one bag can make two decent cups of tea, I don't like weak tea so wouldn't do it otherwise. I'm sure there are some brands that are no good for this. When we have guests though I do treat them to their own bag!

pinknfluffy28

JJ - Great to hear from you, wishing you a pain free recovery soon xx

Princesskitty - Bread turned out beautifully! Didn't last long, and have another 2 loaves "on the rise" as I type. Hoping to stay machine free now ;-)

Had a rough start to today, found out dd1 has been self harming again (its been on going for almost a year, but she had been fine for a couple of months, thanks to a fantastic councillor).

Spoke to her school again as it appears the bullying has started again. The school are very unhelpful and lack any understanding of such issues, so it is an ongoing battle trying to convince them that a)DD is not simply attention seeking (if only, maybe then it wouldn't have taken us 6 months to notice, as she is so good at hiding it) and, b)simply "having a word" with the boys involved isno longer good enough.

Yet another meeting with head lined up, I will be putting my foot down, I feel at the very least, the boys parents should be called in. I have to keep dh in the dark for now, as when he found out originally, he really was ready to do slightly more than have a word with the boys himself, and we have enough to worry about without him getting himself arrested!

Sorry to ramble, just feeling a bit down xx

KiWi13

JJ – wow you really have been through the wars recently. You never cease to amaze me at what you get up to so soon after having what would floor the rest of us. I know I certainly wouldn't be thinking of exams (any excuse eh!?) I’m sorry that it hasn’t given you specifically the answers you were looking for but as princesskitty said hopefully it rules something out which can’t all be a bad thing.
Pinknfluffy – what a horrible situation to be in regarding DD. I can only imagine what you and your DD are going through. I can also understand your DH reaction – I’m sure you feel the same but realise it wouldn’t help much. But I’m also sure you need support too so don’t keep him in the dark too long as he can help take the weight of this on his shoullders too.
I hope this meeting with head goes ok. Can the counsellor you said was so good not step in some how to see if they can help school understand the seriousness of what these boys are doing to your DD? Really irritates me when a possibly small action could help the whole situation and no one seems to be helping. Very much a “banging your head on a brick wall” scenario. Best of luck with it and you are allowed to feel like. We are always here to listen so you can get it off your chest.
Mandco – I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. I know the kids don’t understand but it’s still very hard for you too. Hope you have the support you need and are keeping ok through all that has happened


KiWi xx